Voters in Oklahoma approved a bill in November to update the state's liquor laws. Soon they may have a chance to decide on liquor sales on Sundays.
Senate Bill 211 by Sen. Stephanie Bice is meant to complement State Question 792, which voters approved in November to modernize the state’s alcohol laws.
If it becomes law, each county would be able to ask its voters to weigh in on opening liquor stores on Sundays.
“Again, this bill helps address a parity issue between grocery and convenience stores and retail liquor stores. Those counties who vote to allow Sunday sales would benefit from the additional tax revenue. It will also help Oklahoma counties bordering with states that already have Sunday sales better compete for those dollars,” Bice said. “But I felt it was very important to make sure voters in each of our state’s 77 counties had the opportunity to decide this issue.”
The Oklahoma Retail Liquor Association and a number of local stores are supporting the measure, calling it a way to increase consumer convenience
If the bill is approved by the full House, each county will then be able to put in on the ballot.
Sunday sales could then start in the Fall of 2018